By Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (RD/CN)
Mumbai, Nov 8: “The Bunts community is known for its social concern and has developed the grit to overcome any challenge to be successful in life. Although the community small in numbers, their contributions to the society and the nation are notable,” said Sandhya S Pai, chief editor, ‘Taranga’, Kannada weekly.
She was speaking at a felicitation programme in honour of Aikala Harish Shetty, president of Bunts Sangh and recipient of Karnataka Rajyotsav Award, held at Radhabai T Bhandary auditorium, Bunts Bhavan, Kurla (East), on Sunday November 6.
S M Group chairman S M Shetty presided over the programme.
Laxminarayan Asranna, chief priest of Durgaparameshwari temple, Kateel, graced the occasion.
Karnataka state religious endowment member Vidhwan Panja Bhaskar Bhat delivered the felicitation address.
Powai, Panchakuteer Suvarna temple managing trustee Suvarna Baba, and Kateel temple priest Ananta Padmanabha Asranna also graced the occasion.
The dignitaries felicitated Aikala Harish Shetty with the title of ‘Samaj Samrat’ and 25 gold sovereigns.
Laxminarayan Asranna lauded the societal concern of Harish Shetty.
Udupi-based Shyamili Trust managing trustee Dr G Shankar, Mangalore-based SCDCC Bank chairman M N Rajendra Kumar, All India Billava Federation president Jaya C Suvarna, Ryan International Group of Education institutions managing director Grace Pinto, metro-based Kannadiga Patrakartara Sangh president Chandrashekar Palettady, metro-based Bhandary Seva Samiti president Balakrishna P Bhandary, and Okkaligara Sangh Maharastra president Narayan R Gowda were the specially invited guests on the occasion.
Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Karnataka MLA Abayachandra Jain, Borivali (West) MLA Gopal C Shetty, Karnataka former minister B Nagaraj Shetty, Federation of Bunts former president Malady Ajit Rai, and Karnataka NRI committee vice-president Captain Ganesh Karnic were the chief guests.
Ramakrishna Group of Hotels chairman Subbayya V Shetty, Charisma Builders managing director Sudhir V Shetty, Abu Dhabi based Udupi Group of Hotels managing director Kalattoor Shekar Shetty, Hubli-based Anant Residency managing director Ramesh Shetty, Belgaum hotelier Raghuram Shetty, Suresh Shetty Bellary, Molahalli Balakrishna Hegde Pune, Shivaram Shetty Thane, Santosh Shetty Pune, Mahesh Tutorials managing director Mahesh Shetty, and AHAR president Sudhakar Y Shetty were the guests of honour.
Harish Shetty’s wife Chandrika, son Arjun, and daughter Sannidhi were also present on the occasion.
Harish Shetty, acknowledging his felicitations, said that he would not sit on his laurels and would instead work for the welfare of community.
Bunts Sangh former presidents and trustees M D Shetty, Hejamady Vittal Shetty, R C Shetty, Merkala Tyampanna Shetty, Nitte Sudhakar Shetty, B M Shetty, B Vivek Shetty, Sudhakar S Hegde, Dr P V Shetty, Padmanabha S Payyade, Prabhakar L Shetty, Nagriguttu Vivek Shetty, Tavi S Shetty, education and community welfare committee president Karnire Vishwanat Shetty, women’s wing president Asha Manohar Hegde, former president Lata P Bhandary, and youth wing president Goutham S Shetty were present on the dais.
Felicitation committee president chartered accountant Shankar B Shetty, vice-president Shivaram G Shetty, convener Mundkoor Ratnakar Shetty, secretary V K Shetty, treasurer K D Shetty, Bunts Sangh joint secretary Harish Vasu Shetty, joint treasurer chartered accountant Satish Shetty, Mulund Bunts president and Bunts Sangh trustee Nagriguttu Vivek Shetty and heads of various committees were also present on the occasion.
Ashok Pakkala and Vijaykumar Shetty compered the programme. Padmanabha Sasihitlu narrated the life of Aikala Harish Shetty through music. V K Shetty proposed the vote of thanks.